High-throughput determination of mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti–Ta–Fe alloys

The mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys in the Ti-rich region were investigated by utilizing a high-throughput method, with the combination of nanoindentation and diffusion couple techniques.Five groups of ternary Ti-Ta-Fe diffusion couples were prepared after annealing at 1273 K for 25 h. The composition-dependent mechanical properties of bcc Ti-Ta-Fe system were experimentally determined by means of nanoindentation and electron probe microanalysis(EPMA) techniques. Moreover, the interdiffusion coefficients of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys at 1273 K were confirmed from the composition gradients of the ternary diffusion couples with the support of a pragmatic numerical inverse method. A composition-dependent database on the mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys was carefully established and utilized for the discussion of the processability during the hot working. The results indicated that the content of Fe should be controlled for the Ti alloys with high hardness and low Young’s modulus.

Case for vaginal pain induced by multiple sclerosis

A female patient with vaginal pain induced by multiple sclerosis was treated by acupuncture.Her chief complaint:pricking vaginal pain during intercourse for 1 year.Electroacupuncture was applied to Shènshū(肾俞BL23),Huìyáng(会阳BL35),Cìliáo(次髎BL32)and Zhōngliáo(中髎BL33)on lumbosacral region.The disperse wave was adopted firstly,followed by the dense wave in stimulation.The stimulation intensity was determined by the patient’s tolerance.The needles were retained for 50 min totally.After 2-month treatment,the sexual function of the patient was recovered to be normal.The sexual activity was normal in 1-year follow-up and vaginal pain was not recurred.

Effect of Letrozole,Berberine,or Their Combination for Infertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:Statistical Analysis Plan for a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction:Letrozole showed higher ovulation and live birth rates than clomiphene in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Berberine,a major active component of Chinese herbal medicine rhizomacoptidis,has been used to improve insulin resistance to facilitate ovulation induction in women with PCOS,but there is no study reporting the live birth or its potential as a complementary treatment to letrozole.We aim to determine the efficacy of letrozole with or without berberine in achieving live births among 644 infertile women with PCOS in China's Mainland.Methods and analysis:This is a prospective,randomized,multicentre,double-blinded,controlled design.Infertile women with PCOS were randomized into three-arm,letrozole and berberine,letrozole and berberine placebo,letrozole placebo and berberine.Data and blood were collected at baseline,the third month and sixth month after treatment,or immediately were collected if subject was pregnant.Statisticians and clinical investigators were blinded to treatment allocation and treatment related study results until the central database was locked for final data extraction and analysis determined.The statistical analysis plan described basic analysis principles,methods commonly encountered in data analysis issues,and the specific statistical procedures for analyzing the primary,secondary,and safety outcomes.Ethics and dissemination:The study was approved by the ethics committee of the First Affiliated Hospital,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine.The study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry:Chi CTR-TRC-09000376.Clinical Trials.gov identifier:NCT01116167.

Evidence-based interventions of threatened miscarriage

Threatened miscarriage is the commonest complication of early pregnancy and affects about 20% of pregnancies. It presents with vaginal bleeding with or without abdominal cramps. Increasing age of women, smoking, obesity or polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) and a previous history of miscarriage are risk factors for threatened miscarriage. The pathophysiology has been associated with changes in levels of cytokines or maternal immune dysfunction. Clinical history and examination, maternal serum biochemistry and ultrasound findings are important to determine the treatment options and provide valuable information for the prognosis. Bed rest is the commonest advice, but there is little evidence of its value. Other options include progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) and muscle relaxants. The complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) therapies such as acupuncture and Chinese herbs have also been tried. There is some evidence from clinical studies indicating that CAM therapies may reduce the rate of miscarriage, but the quality of studies is poor. Thus, further double-blind,randomized-controlled trials are necessary to confirm its effectiveness, especially acupuncture and Chinese herbs.